Need help/press...

[maxymalny]

Hi,

Good lesson for everyone... I thought, that I will get the same results using cheap stuff as with decent tools. I'm talking about the heat press - flat and one for mugs.
To explain what exactly I bought, here are the pictures:

Heat press:


Mug press:


Everything is ok if I'm doing jigsaws, mouse pads, small pictures or photos. But when I tried to sublimate on an acrylic block I end up with a photo which was good in the middle and had some kind of white 'waves' around. Looks like the temperature is not the same across the heat plate, or maybe thats an issue with the pressure? The same is with A4 size pictures for T-Shirts - tried many times with few different papers and most of the cases the part of the picture is doesn't stick to the fabric.

Mug press is better but still can not go too close to the mug handle, even when the paper is covered by heating coat - looks like the temperature there is not high enough, the ink is staying on the paper.

I know, that I shouldn't go for cheap Chinese stuff, it's my fault. I tried to make a return, but the guy doesn't answer my phone calls... Keep trying...


Now the question: Does any of you have a spare, old, still working press for sale at reasonable price? I've spend too much money and don't want to give up now...


Any help or advice would be appreciated....

[Paul]

first. this mug press is excellent and it do the job great. you will find very difficult to get close to the handles with mug press. for this people use mug wraps and ovens

Also I dont think there could be such diffidence in temp in such small area on the heat platen. acrylics are only small....

I dont know how long you in sublimation but I would call it as a lack of experience. no offence... as it may be fault on your press. but i would do few more attempts before judging the tools ;D

All the best

[maxymalny]

You right, lack of experience is a problem and I'm working on it

With mug press the border of the heating blanket is not giving enough heat (or pressure?) to transfer all ink from the paper, but now I think that's how it suppose to be. Just need to use shorter graphic for transfer...

I'm worry more about the flat press - tried another acrylic block in slightly different place inside the press and keep getting those waves. I'll try once more with low pressure, maybe I put too much pressure on it?
I will edit this post later and put pictures of my all acrylic jobs, maybe someone would be able to tell me what I'm doing wrong...

Practice makes perfect

[pisquee]

prepare a print out from the computer printer that is big enough to cover the area of the whole press. Get a piece of 100% polyester fabric that also covers the whole area of the press (cut up cheap t-shirt) Do a press with these, and you should see if there are pressure/temperature problem-areas with the press or not.
Maybe some kind of (oven?) thermometer could help to to measure the temperature of the heat plate.
As for pressure, I think there are bolts/screws to adjust the plate - when you open close the plate, if you look closely, if it going down evenly, or crooked?

[cardman]

as for the cups try increasing the heat time.
I have same problem sometimes with ink missing in top corners so what i do is just open press and move cup a bit to the side and press down for a bit longer
works well for me anyway

And im new to all this as well

[bms]

You right, lack of experience is a problem and I'm working on it

With mug press the border of the heating blanket is not giving enough heat (or pressure?) to transfer all ink from the paper, but now I think that's how it suppose to be. Just need to use shorter graphic for transfer...

I'm worry more about the flat press - tried another acrylic block in slightly different place inside the press and keep getting those waves. I'll try once more with low pressure, maybe I put too much pressure on it?
I will edit this post later and put pictures of my all acrylic jobs, maybe someone would be able to tell me what I'm doing wrong...

Practice makes perfect

Are you following the recommended instructions? Pre-heat, cover with silicon rubber, 7 minutes press, light pressure? More details are on our website - just search for acrylic

[maxymalny]

pisquee, cardman - I'll try both tips, thanks!
Meantime I tried to deal with the acrylic block again:

- preheated it for about 2 minutes.
- fit the paper on it, cover with silicone rubber and close with low pressure
- checked after 7 minutes: http://imageshack.us/g/215/img3791d.jpg/ - the circles are still there, one side looks better but the other one.. disaster.
- at last doesn't cracked like the other ones I've done...

I think after 3 blocks destroyed I need to change the strategy :/


edit:
bms, that's exactly what I've done, must be something wrong with me, maybe a curse or something


edit2:

I've done simple heating test, pisquee suggested: printed out three gray sheets with some lines on them and used a white t-shirt covering all heating area. Set up only 20s in 180C to check if the temperatures are everywhere the same (or close). The results are here:
http://imageshack.us/g/196/img3793b.jpg/
If you can open one of the pictures in original size, you can see different colors in different places - like you know, I don't have much experience, but tell me please if the result shouldn't be different? Don't know what to think about it...

[bms]

On the photo blocks, was the paper wrinkled after you pressed in the same area as the circles?
What paper are you using and what is the silicon rubber that you're using?
I would reprint the same image, resuse one of the blocks and try to align over exactly. Pre-heat, press, but add 2 minutes onto the time.

[mrs maggot]

did we not have a problem recently where someone was using greaseproof paper and not silicone and getting swirling marks on the block ??

[maxymalny]

On the photo blocks, was the paper wrinkled after you pressed in the same area as the circles?
What paper are you using and what is the silicon rubber that you're using?
I would reprint the same image, resuse one of the blocks and try to align over exactly. Pre-heat, press, but add 2 minutes onto the time.

How do you know Yes, it was wrinkled around the circles.
I'm using 'Funky Leopard Pro Dye Sublimation Transfer Paper Ultra HD' - so far was good for mugs, jigsaws, mouse pads... Always was using the brighter side of it, more sticky to the wet fingers - Was I doing it wrong?
Silicon pad I have from BMS.

P.S.: If the moderator decide, that this thread should be split and moved to different part of the forum, please fix it for me.